The Result
Isaiah 61:4 (NIVUK)
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated.
They will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
This was a passage that the community at Christ Church Summerfield in Birmingham had been praying over, faithfully, for five years before the revitalisation of the church began. They were waiting every day for the Lord to send someone to rebuild, restore and renew the church. Christ Church was by no means a 'ruin' or an inactive church, but the faithful community still felt the need for this revitalisation to occur.
Today's passage follows immediately from yesterday’s. It is such an encouragement that when the Lord plants the right people, filled with his Spirit, in the right place, they will glorify God and go on to do great things for his Kingdom.
This can be scary for some of us: it may lead to a change in how things are managed or having to allow others to take over what we have been holding on to for years. But if we truly want to see rebuilding, restoration, and renewal, we need to take that leap of faith and trust that God has guided the right people to be in the right place.
Having travelled through this week, I'm reflecting on what we have we have been learning: we've considered a) our worthiness in Jesus, b) how we're called by God, c) the message we're entrusted to share, and d) the audience we give it to. At the end of this Spirit-led process, what a result awaits! When we faithfully follow through, taking the time to listen to God’s call and obeying it, we will see such amazing changes around and beyond us!
There is only one way to access the support that we need for our God-appointed mission - asking for the ready and waiting power of God's Holy Spirit to fall on us and keep us faithful to our calling.
Prayer - Thank you, Lord, that you have a call on our lives and plans that are far bigger than we can imagine. We pray that you anoint us with your Spirit and guide us so we will help to build your kingdom 'here on earth as it is in Heaven.'